Take a look at any photos of the Jamaican landscape and it’ll seem like the island was simply made for ziplining. Rolling hills, steep cliffs, winding rivers, rushing waterfalls — and good weather year-round!
Ziplining is one of the most popular things to do in Jamaica and there are so many places you can do it. Whether you’re looking for the absolute best zipline course in Jamaica or want to go on a tour of them all, here’s a list of the most popular and highly-rated places to get that adrenaline fix.
You’ll also get a rundown on what to wear on your ziplining trip and what limitations are in place for ziplining in Jamaica.
Best Places to Zipline in Jamaica
Jamwest Motorsports & Adventure Park
Jamwest Motorsports & Adventure Park is an expansive, ranch-style park with plenty of activities to keep you busy all day. That includes ATVs, horseback riding, a jungle safari, and — of course — ziplining.
The facility is just about 30 minutes outside of Negril. It’s home to eight 60-foot-high towers and a total of more than 2,450 feet of zip lines.
One of the most popular lines is the Racing Zip. Here, two people can race each other on parallel ziplines!
The lines here give you stunning aerial views of the Caribbean Sea and the incredibly lush rainforests of western Jamaica.
To wrap up the zipline experience, you can either try a 60-foot rappel or zipline even further to Jamwest’s Rocky Water Village, where you can take a dip in a natural mineral bath.
When you’re done with your adventure, you can head back to the main clubhouse for a bite to eat or take on more of the many activities the park has to offer.
Mystic Mountain
Ocho Rios is surrounded by some of the most diverse geography and nature on the island, so it makes sense that there’d be a rainforest adventure park just outside the town!
Like Jamwest, Mystic Mountain has multiple rides and activities, of which ziplining is just one. From the top of the mountains, above the rainforest canopy, you can choose to either bobsled or zipline.
This is definitely one of the more daring options for ziplining in Jamaica. Within the network of six plummeting lines, there’s an 80-foot-long suspension bridge and a 30-foot vertical rappel.
At the end of your escapade, you can slow down with a ride on the SkyExplorer. This ride takes you back down to the base, offering a different, more in-depth view of the landscape.
If you also want to try the alternate route (the bobsled ride), you could go back up and do that, too. It takes you by land rather than air, right through the thick of the jungle! Both the zipline and the bobsled are sure to get your adrenaline pumping!
Chukka Eco-Adventure Outpost at Good Hope
Chukka is one of the most popular tour companies in Jamaica, with several locations around the island. One of them is the Eco-Adventure Outpost at Good Hope, near Falmouth. This port town is about half an hour from Montego Bay, an hour from Ocho Rios, and two hours from Negril.
Good Hope is a former plantation estate nestled in the hills of Jamaica’s Cockpit Country. The area is known for its characteristic geography and is also home to the largest contiguous rainforest in Jamaica!
One of the many things to do at the outpost is soar above Good Hope. The zipline course here gives you a bird’s-eye view of the verdant landscape, the historical buildings, and the famous Martha Brae River.
After your adventure, try river tubing, taking a guided tour of the area, swimming in the zero-entry swimming pool, or feasting on some classic Jamaican food.
YS Falls
YS Falls is a series of seven waterfalls in southwest Jamaica, about an hour and a half drive from Negril or two hours from Montego Bay. Despite being a bit out of the way, YS Falls is one of the most popular natural attractions on the island!
The zipline course here is operated by Chukka and takes you 40 feet above the seven waterfalls. Hearing the rushing water of the falls as you zoom past them, taking in all the dense jungle scenery, is an opportunity you shouldn’t pass up.
While you’re there, you should definitely enjoy the waterfalls themselves and the refreshing natural pools they feed into. There’s also a garden at the falls and picnic tables dotted around, making it a great place to spend a chill day.
A popular tour option that Chukka offers is the Appleton Estate Triple Zip. It combines a ziplining excursion at YS Falls with a rum-tasting tour and a safari excursion at other south coast destinations!
Dunn’s River Falls
Climbing to the peak of Dunn’s River Falls is on many a traveler’s bucket list. It’s done in a group with a guide, through rushing water and over the step-like rocks.
From the 180-foot-high summit, you can bask in both your sense of accomplishment and the beauty of the Ocho Rios rainforests.
Also from the summit, you can zipline back down to where you started, seeing the falls you just climbed from a completely different point of view.
Once again, this zipline course is operated by Chukka (they probably operate the most ziplines in the country!). The course is called the Falls Flyer and consists of seven ziplines and four hanging bridges.
Aside from its simply impressive nature, this is quite a unique waterfall. Not many waterfalls in the world empty directly into the sea, like Dunn’s River Falls does. There’s a gorgeous white sand beach at its base where you can recharge when you touch back down to the ground.
What to Wear When Ziplining
The zipline harness is quite snug and will cause your pants to ride up, so short shorts and skirts will likely be uncomfortable and downright impractical. It’s best to wear long pants, capris, or knee-length shorts.
Pants or shorts with zippered pockets would be a plus but, otherwise, you’ll want to give anything you brought with you to your guide or friends to hold for you while you’re ziplining. Don’t try to keep your stuff in your regular pockets!
Also because of the harness, your top should cover your whole torso. If wearing a crop top, the harness may be uncomfortably tight around your bare abdomen and cause pain.
You’ll want to wear minimal jewelry. Long, dangly jewelry is a safety hazard as it could get tangled in your harness.
Closed-toe shoes are also a requirement. They have treads on the bottom and are anti-slip. Water shoes are often recommended, though hiking boots or a good pair of sneakers would work just fine.
Limitations on Ziplining in Jamaica
While there’s no standard weight limit across the board, most zipline attractions in Jamaica have their maximum weight set between 260 and 280 pounds. Be sure to check with the zipline operator beforehand!
Age also varies, even among different locations for the same operator. In some places, brave kids as young as six years old can try their hand at the course, while others have a minimum age of 12.
Ziplining isn’t recommended for persons who are pregnant or have back problems. Many tour operators also flat-out do not facilitate people who have heart conditions or other serious medical issues.